The Body Remembers - First Impressions - Debbie Gibson

Gibson announced the release of the album on June 4, 2021. In an interview with Billboard magazine, she stated, "This album very much feels like Electric Youth 2021 in a lot of ways." Gibson also said, "The variety of styles, the way it encapsulates my life right now -- I really wanted to let it hang out on this album. The goal was to make an undeniably special, authentic, well-crafted and yet still raw album. I feel great about the fact we found that. I feel like I've made an undeniable album."^[1]

Gibson came up with the album title while writing the songs during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. "I was writing both upbeats and ballads, but I was gravitating toward the upbeats just because everybody needs that energy shift now. Pop music does that — it shifts energy. That's where the title comes from — the body remembers all the visceral moments tied to your favorite pop songs."^[2] The song "Legendary" was written in memory of Kobe Bryant.^[1] Gibson describes "One Step Closer" as a "throwback style of Dua Lipa and Kylie Minogue."^[2] "Strings" focuses on "putting self-love above everything."^[6]

Among the album's 15 tracks is "Lost in Your Eyes, the Duet" a new recording of Gibson's 1989 hit single with Joey McIntyre. The duo first performed the song together during New Kids on the Block's Mixtape Tour in 2019.^[1][2][3][4] The single was released on streaming services on June 4 while the official music video was uploaded on Gibson's YouTube channel on July 1.^[7] On July 12, Gibson announced "One Step Closer" as the album's second single.^[8] The official track listing was revealed on July 16.